Engine ran, now it's stuck, please help

[KU Roo]

This is my first post, I've been lurking and getting all the info I need from searching. Now I really need some help.

I just finished putting a S52 OBD1 conversion into a 1990 E30 and was ready to fire it up for the first time. I cranked the motor over for about 10-15 seconds twice with no power to the relays to get some oil pumping prior to firing it up. After that, I connected power to the relays and it fired up after about 8-10 seconds of cranking.

It ran for 3 or 4 seconds until my brother realized the fan was loose. I shut it off, tightened up the fan and went to start it again. Dead. The starter will not spin the motor, tried the key a few times, just get a clunk from the starter. Motor will not crank. I put a breaker bar on the crank bolt to try and turn the engine and it wont turn. I pulled the plugs and it still won't turn.

Some one please throw some ideas out there, what could possible have happened here? Stuck starter? No oil pressure and siezed the motor in a matter of seconds? Seems very unlikely. Please help.

Andrew

[White325is]

what clutch and flywheel setup you using. also what starter..

[KU Roo]

Sorry, forgot to mention that info.

E36 ZF trans, dual mass flywheel, and sachs m3 clutch. Nothing exotic. The starter is the E36one, my motor came from a 1998 M3 Auto that I parted out and kept the motor, etc. I checked RealOEM and see that Auto and Manual starters are the same part number.

[jahnaboi]

Did you happen to remove the a/c pulley on the harmonic balancer and still used the same bolts you removed? This usually happens when people delete the a/c pulley and use the same bolts. You are required to either shave the bolts down .25 of an inch or use shorter ones. The longer/ a/c bolts will lock your crank to your timing case cover.

Just a suggestion.

[BigD]

Try to remove the starter and then try turning it by hand. Maybe the starter got stuck engaged... that's all I can really think of, I really doubt it has seized.

[KU Roo]

No, I left the A/C pully on even though I deleted the A/C. So that can't be it. I'll try to pull the starter today and see if the frees up the engine. My wife calls this project my "mistress" because I have been spending more time with "her" then my wife. Might need to put in a little qulaity time before I can get back out into the garage. The married guys on the list know what I am talking about.

I am glad to hear that full engine seizure is not likely. The thought of having to pull the engine back out and tearing it down makes me break out in a cold sweat.

Thanks for the replies. I'll post updates as soon as I can. Damn, I just want to see this beast run!

Andrew

[jahnaboi]

Glad to hear its not that. (my suggestion)

Yea, try pulling the starter. You sure you connected them correctly?

[BigD]

I am glad to hear that full engine seizure is not likely. The thought of having to pull the engine back out and tearing it down makes me break out in a cold sweat.

I would be absolutely shocked if it were the case. I've seen engines die from no oil, and people trying to kill them on purpose. Watch any cash4clunkers videos. They drain the oil and replace it with salt water. They have to run the engine forever, it starts smoking and making horrible noises, but it takes a long time for it to seize.

[KU Roo]

Re. hooking up starter wrong - I have the E30 power cable from the dist. block on pass side going to the large lug on the starter, and the two black wires with colored runners from the harness going to the little lugs based on size of the connector and cooresponding lug size. It seems like you'd have to try to mess that part up. Can someone confirm which black/colored runner wire goes to which post? I can double check my hook ups. If it was wrong, would the starter have worked at all? I was able to crank the motor for a short time prior to it starting (briefly) and then getting stuck.

I'm headed to the garage now to see if I can get the starter out. Crossing my fingers.

Thanks for the replies, it really helps.

Andrew

[KU Roo]

**Update**

I pulled the drive belt, all the accessories spin freely. I also pulled the starter and still no luck. The engine will turn only a few degrees, or just 2 1/2 teeth on the front crank timing wheel.

Next step is pull the trans, or just pull the entire engine out and take the trans off. Hopefully the problem is with the clutch flywheel, etc. If that's not it, I quess I will pull the oil pan and take it from there.

[e30Rob]

let us know i'm kinda interested in this one

[hoveringuy]

This is new and different.

So you're turning it over by the using a large nut on the crankshaft pulley and it only turns a little bit. It stops in the same position each time when going in different directions?

It's in neutral?

One of the jugs filled with gas??

Timing chain came off?

There must be a sound coming from somewhere when it stops!

[Spaz]

This is new and different.

So you're turning it over by the using a large nut on the crankshaft pulley and it only turns a little bit. It stops in the same position each time when going in different directions?

It's in neutral?

One of the jugs filled with gas??

Timing chain came off?

There must be a sound coming from somewhere when it stops!

I agree this is odd

I'm thinking it could be that transmission + clutch disc problem another member had?

What combo did you use?

[7pilot]

Andrew.
If you cannot rotate the crank in either direction it is highly likely that the clutch disc is welded to the T/O bearing guide tube.
I hope it is this rather than an out of time engine, as painful as it may seem.
Did you use a disc w/o springs? It installs 180 degrees from conventional.

m

[M-technik-3]

Did you pull the plug and try to rotate the engine this way? Lack of compression might allow you to see if the engine actual stuck.